Back to top

Sabbath Bible Lessons

Worship in Awe and Reverence

 <<    >> 
Lesson 1 Sabbath, July 7, 2012

The Fear of God

“Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7).

“Jehovah is the true God. Let Him be feared and reverenced.”—The Paulson Collection, p. 276.

Suggested Reading:   The Ministry of Healing, pp. 427-438

Sunday July 1

1. THE OMNIPOTENT CREATOR

a. What aspects of creation should inspire us with reverence for God? Psalms 96:4, 5; 139:14; Revelation 14:7.

“It is not by an original power inherent in nature that year by year the earth yields its bounties and continues its march around the sun. The hand of infinite power is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God’s power momentarily exercised that keeps it in position in its rotation.”—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 260.

“The mechanism of the human body cannot be fully understood; it presents mysteries that baffle the most intelligent. It is not as the result of a mechanism, which, once set in motion, continues its work, that the pulse beats and breath follows breath. In God we live and move and have our being. The beating heart, the throbbing pulse, every nerve and muscle in the living organism, is kept in order and activity by the power of an ever-present God.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 417.

b. How does our wisdom compare to God’s wisdom? 1 Corinthians 1:20, 21, 25–31. How can we gain true wisdom? Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10.

“Men of the greatest intellect cannot understand the mysteries of Jehovah as revealed in nature. . . . The judgment and purposes of God are past finding out. His wisdom is unsearchable.”—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 261.


Monday July 2

2. THE HEAVENLY ATTITUDE

a. According to visions given to the prophets, what is the attitude manifested by heavenly beings toward their Creator? Isaiah 6:1–3; Revelation 4:8–11.

“The seraphim before the throne are so filled with reverential awe in beholding the glory of God that they do not for an instant look upon themselves with self-complacency, or in admiration of themselves or one another. Their praise and glory are for the Lord of Hosts, who is high and lifted up, and the glory of whose train fills the temple. As they see the future, when the whole earth shall be filled with His glory, the triumphant song of praise is echoed from one to another in melodious chant, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts.’ They are fully satisfied to glorify God; and in His presence, beneath His smile of approbation, they wish for nothing more. In bearing His image, in doing His service and worshiping Him, their highest ambition is fully reached.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E.G. White Comments], vol. 4, p. 1140.

b. What can we learn about God’s sustaining power as it was shown in vision to the prophet Ezekiel? Ezekiel 1:8.

“In Ezekiel’s vision, God had His hand beneath the wings of the cherubim. This is to teach His servants that it is divine power that gives them success. He will work with them if they will put away iniquity and become pure in heart and life. The heavenly messengers seen by Ezekiel, like a bright light going among the living creatures with the swiftness of lightning, represent the speed with which this work will finally go forward to completion. He who slumbers not, who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs, can carry forward His great work harmoniously. That which appears to finite minds entangled and complicated, the Lord’s hand can keep in perfect order. . . .

“God is acquainted with every man. Could our eyes be opened we would see that eternal justice is at work in our world. A powerful influence, not under man’s control, is working. Man may fancy that he is directing matters, but there are higher than human influences at work.”—Ibid., p. 1161.


Tuesday July 3

3. THE STATE OF HUMANITY

a. In contrast to the cooperative atmosphere of Heaven, how does the Lord describe the condition on earth? Ezekiel 2:4 (first part); Romans 3:10–19.

“Through Satan’s temptations the whole human race have become transgressors of God’s law.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 338.

“If Adam, at his creation, had not been endowed with twenty times as much vital force as men now have, the race, with their present habits of living in violation of natural law, would have become extinct.”—Testimonies, vol. 3, pp. 138, 139.

b. What problems in attitude are intensifying today, and how can sincere Christians avoid being affected by them? 2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 5; Romans 16:17.

“To the end of time, men will arise to create confusion and rebellion among the people who profess to obey the law of God.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E.G. White Comments], vol. 4, p. 1158.

“Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by it unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ.”—Ibid., vol. 1, p. 1114.

c. What does the beloved John explain about charity? 1 John 3:4, 7–10; 2 John 9–11.

“We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who claim to abide in Christ while living in transgression of God’s law. There exist in these last days evils similar to those that threatened the prosperity of the early church; and the teachings of the apostle John on these points should be carefully heeded. ‘You must have charity,’ is the cry heard everywhere, especially from those who profess sanctification. But true charity is too pure to cover an unconfessed sin. While we are to love the souls for whom Christ died, we are to make no compromise with evil. We are not to unite with the rebellious and call this charity. God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for the right as unflinchingly as did John in opposition to soul-destroying errors.”—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 554, 555.


Wednesday July 4

4. OVERCOMING HUMAN TENDENCIES

a. What recommendations in study and speech are given to all who profess to be children of God? Psalm 105:1–5; 1 Corinthians 10:1–5.

“[1 Corinthians 10:1–5 quoted.] The experience of Israel, referred to in the above words by the apostle, and as recorded in the one hundred fifth and one hundred sixth psalms, contains lessons of warning that the people of God in these last days especially need to study. I urge that these chapters be read at least once every week.”—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 98, 99.

“If we have dark chapters in our experience, let us not keep their memory fresh by repetition. Forgetting the things that are behind, let us press forward to the things that are before. Cultivate only those thoughts and feelings which produce gratitude and praise. If you have been wronged, forget it and think only of the great mercy, the loving-kindness, the inexpressible love of Jesus. Learn to praise rather than to censure. If you meet with insult and abuse, do not become discouraged, for Jesus met the same. Go forward, doing your work with fidelity. Store the mind with the precious promises of God’s word, and hold sweet communion with Him by frequently repeating them. Cease fretting, cease murmuring, cease finding fault, and make melody to God in your hearts. Think of everything you have to be thankful for, and then learn to praise God. ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God’ (Psalm 50:23).

“If all our mourning, and fretting, and complaining were presented before us as written in the book of records, what a sight would we behold! How astonished we would be to see and understand our real thoughts and feelings—naught but unhappy complainings.”—The Signs of the Times, September 27, 1883.

b. What type of fear is needed today? Isaiah 51:12, 13; Matthew 10:28.

“Christ’s followers today should guard against the tendency to lose the spirit of reverence and godly fear.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 48.

“God calls for men who, like Nathan, Elijah, and John, will bear His message with fearlessness, regardless of consequences; who will speak the truth, though to do this calls for the sacrifice of all they have.”—Gospel Workers, p. 150.


Thursday July 5

5. THE CONVERTED RESPONSE TO GOD

a. What can we learn from the attitude of certain men in history whose worship was acceptable to God? Ezra 9:5, 6; Ezekiel 1:28; Ephesians 3:14.

“When God sent His angels anciently to minister or communicate to individuals, and these persons learned that they had seen and talked with an angel, they were struck with awe and were afraid that they should die. They had so exalted views of the terrible majesty and power of God that they thought it would destroy them to be brought into close connection with one direct from His holy presence.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 410.

b. Describe the contrast between God’s true people and halfhearted professors in an hour of religious crisis. Revelation 3:14–19; Matthew 24:42–50.

“I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances. . . .

“Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. . . . I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.

“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.”—Early Writings, pp. 269, 270.


Friday July 6

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What aspects of God inspire us the most with awe and reverence?

2. Describe the significance of Ezekiel’s vision for these last days.

3. How can we fortify ourselves against the prevailing irreverence?

4. Differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate fear in God’s sight.

5. How should we respond to the message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans?

 <<    >>